Our First Shabbat

As many of you know Earlene and I observe the Saturday Sabbath. I grew up that way as an Adventist and wandered away for a long time and then we found our way back to the Sabbath together toward the beginning of our marriage.

Being in the Land is a unique experience because this country is built around Scripture. They observe God’s teachings to the greatest extent possible, yes, even the believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). Most of them prepare special meals for Shabbat before sundown on Friday and they go out of their way to celebrate the arrival of this island in time that God has blessed us with. The Sabbath is truly a special time that one can only fully understand by partaking in it. We’ve heard a story from a friend a couple of times about a gentleman that he knew who attended his congregation 7 times before having that breakthrough moment and telling our friend “I finally understand the Sabbath.”

On our first Shabbat we are very limited on what we have in our quarantine space. It’s secluded and we can’t go to the store or prepare for this special day. As with everything, God has us covered and taken care of.

The friends that have allowed us to use their home delivered to our door a Shabbat meal, Challah bread, and wine. It was absolutely perfect. Earlene and I opened our meal in prayer, blessed God for the wine and bread and enjoyed the flavorful meal that our friends provided. The blessing cannot be overstated.

As I write this on Shabbat afternoon, we can hear the joyous singing of some of those friends as they celebrate their God and the blessing of Shabbat. It brightens my heart! It encourages me to hear the singing and celebration of our God. There is indeed something special about this day that cannot be experienced on any other day regardless of how we may try – and through my wanderings, I certainly have tried.

Shabbat shalom!